Tuesday, November 19, 2013

SIGNing Off

This article, recently brought to our attention by Save The Signs on Colfax, was originally printed in The Urban Dweller
newsletter in April of 1974, and describes efforts by Capitol Hill United
Neighborhoods to encourage businesses to stop using animated signs:

On Dec. 8, 1973. Capitol Hill United
Neighborhoods, Inc., began a campaign to persuade businesses which had
flashing or moving signs to adjust the signs so that they no longer
flashed or moved. Forty eight businesses with such signs which were
within CHUN's geographic boundaries or had a visual impact on the
neighborhood were contacted by letter by CHUN president, Michael Henry.
The businesses were asked to adjust their signs "because flashing and
moving signs are in violation of the Denver City Sign Code, because
their ugliness contributes to the visual deterioration of the
neighborhood, and because they are wasteful of energy in a time when
energy should only be used for necessary purposes."

To date,
twenty-seven of the forty eight businesses contacted in the Capitol Hill
area have adjusted their signs so that they no longer flash or move.

Mr. Richard Kuratli of the Bluebird Theater responded by letter to say
that he does not believe that the flashing lights of his theater are
ugly; that the theater does save some electricity by reducing the time
the lights operate; that the sign is apparently not illegal "as we were
permitted to leave ours connected"; and that "flashing lights add
greatly to the Bluebird Theater atmosphere - therefore do not expect any
cooperation."

Mr. Thomas Inslee of Taco-Toro wrote to outline
the considerable energy reduction measures his company was already
using, to express his belief that moving signs are not in violation of
the city sign code, and to express his sincere interest in the
neighborhood. The moving Taco-Toro sign has been turned off in recent
weeks, but this may be due to a malfunction in the sign.

Mr.
Gilbert Goldstein, an attorney representing both the Broadway Plaza
Motel and the Royal Palace Motel, expressed his opinion that their
moving sign was not illegal and that they were not "garish and ugly, but
on the contrary, in my view are quite attractive and perform a useful
function". He expressed willingness to meet with the CHUN president to
discuss the matter further, and said "I hope that if such a meeting
occurs, you will wear a tie which I will not consider garish and ugly."

Mr. Sid King of Sid King's Crazy Horse Bar wrote, "I have a
high opinion of your civic association. I agree with you about the
signs. As soon as I received your letter, I called the sign company and
told them to disconnect the revolving mannequin and all flashing signs."

Since CHUN's first letter (and, obviously, "since" is not
necessary interchangeable with "because of") as of press time, the
following businesses had turned their signs off, and are deserving of
thanks from the community: